Placer Land Trust announced today a large public land donation and the largest endowment donation ever donated in Northern California to the California State Parks, ensuring the popular area for recreational use.

Placer Land Trust donated 417 acres of permanently protected land for public recreational use along the North Fork of the American River.

Each year, about 1 million visitors enjoy the American River’s 100-plus miles of trails, world-class river recreation and the raw natural beauty of the river canyons within the Auburn State Recreation Area.

The land – about the size of the Disneyland Resort in Southern California — is a popular spot for rafting, swimming, fishing and hiking among other outdoor recreational activities. The property is called the “Big Bend North Fork Preserve” due to its location across from Sore Finger Point at Big Bend.

“The American River continues to be an area of special interest for Placer Land Trust due to its unique value to our region,” said Placer Land Trust Executive Director Jeff Darlington. “We’re pleased to protect another stretch of the river through ongoing community support and statewide partnerships.”

The land was acquired through a partnership between The Trust for Public Land and the locally based Placer Land Trust in 2014, and has been managed by Placer Land Trust until California State Parks could accept ownership and management responsibilities as part of the Auburn State Recreation Area. The protection of the land permanently prohibits any residential development into the river canyon, while at the same time protecting the public’s access to the river along Ponderosa Way. In addition to the property’s value as recreational land, it provides beautiful scenery, wildlife habitat and water quality benefits to the public.

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